A Season of Belonging: Alison Reflects on Christmas Past

Our Services Manager Alison reflects on her first Christmas at Contact, when she was a resident at 18 years old:

“As the festive season approaches, I always find myself drifting back to my very first Christmas at Contact - a time that feels both a lifetime ago and just yesterday.

I was only eighteen. I had never lived away from home, and I’d only moved into Contact in November. Everything still felt new and unfamiliar - the thought of spending Christmas away from my family weighed heavily on me. I was worried I’d feel alone, or worse, like I didn’t belong anywhere.

From the moment I stepped into the house, the staff made everything feel warm, welcoming and homely in a way I didn’t expect was possible. They involved us in decorating the tree and we spent evenings making paper chains together. Bit by bit, I stopped feeling like “the new girl” and started feeling part of something.

One of the memories that has stayed with me all these years is the generosity we experienced. Local schools donated the most fabulous food - trays of treats and ingredients that made the whole season feel special. And on Christmas morning, we each had gifts waiting for us. I can still remember opening a gift voucher, beautifully wrapped toiletry sets and the most lovingly hand-knitted scarves and hats donated by local nuns. I still smile thinking of them.

Christmas dinner was delicious and traditional, with all the trimmings, but what touched me most was how thoughtfully it was prepared. Care was taken to offer halal alternatives, allowing Muslim residents to share the day without compromising their faith or being pushed to “celebrate” in a way that didn’t fit their beliefs. It wasn’t just about food; it was about respect, dignity and understanding. It was about belonging.

We spent the evening playing board games and talking, and something about those simple moments made the place feel like home. It was the closest I’d felt to a real family Christmas since leaving my own.

That experience stayed with me, it’s one of the many reasons I’ve now worked at Contact for more than twenty years.

I’ve spent lots of Christmases here since, but it has never once felt like “work.” It’s a privilege to help create for today’s girls the same sense of love and stability that I experienced all those years ago. I’ve taught them the same board games I learned as an eighteen-year-old, watched them decorate trees with the same excitement and seen the relief on their faces when they realise they won’t be spending Christmas alone after all.

Every year, I’m reminded that Contact isn’t just a place to stay.

It’s a home.  It was mine once - and now I get to help make it theirs.

And to me, that’s the most precious Christmas gift of all.”